Beading machine



May 10, 1938. s. s. MILLEN BEADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1936 v IIQIVENTOR. 5 fan fefi/Yfl/e n ATTORNEY.

May 10, 1938. s. s. MILLEN BEADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JfOH/Qy N/flen BY w I ATTORNE May 19*, 1938 s. s. MILLEN 2,116,906

BEADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- 8 1| l I] kgl II l i j f4 in van for BYY M/V/en ATTORNEY.

Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

The machine of this invention relates, as the title indicates, to means to form an annular bead on articles of manufacture, such as'finger cots, toy balloons, and other devices made of thin rubber and having an open; end.

The machine of this invention formsthe beading unit, or beading step, which, isone of a plural number of steps or stages in the manu: facture of the above, referredto articles from the raw material to the finished product.

The above referred to steps are set forth in detail in my co-pending application for Letters Patent, as filed October 11,, 1935,. Serial; Number 44,555, entitled Bead forming machines, and for that. reason the various steps involved in the manufacture, will not be described, except in a brief. historical manner, as follows.

In the manufacture of devices of the character contemplated, mechanical forms are dipped into a suitable solution of rubber, such as liquid latex, and then Withdrawn to permit the forms to.- dry. After the requisite thickness of rubber has beenbuilded upon theforms by one or more dippings, the forms are. moved, either singly or in groups, or gangs, to the-machine which forms the subject matter of this invention. Here the sides of. the openend ofthe article are rolled upon themselves to form a bead of suitable thickness. After beading, the forms together with the articles formed and headed or ringed. thereon, aretaken to a vulcanizing chamber wherein the article is vulcanized. to render the rolled material in the ring or bead into a solid mass and to cure or strengthen the remainder of the article.

After vulcanizing, the article is removed from its form and then is, assorted, tested and packaged for the trade.

With the foregoing operations in mind as a back-ground for the purpose of the present invention, it may be said:

(.1) That it is a prime object of the present invention to more efliciently and more effectively ring or bead articles of the. character contemplated in groups or gangs, than has heretofore been possible.

(2) An advantage of the invention resides. in the possibility of massed; production of the articles contemplated, thus lowering the ultimate cost to the consumer.

(3) A further advantage resides in the fact that due to the limited number of moving parts present in the machine of, this invention, the cost of construction, maintenance and operation are reduced to a minimum.

These and other features, advantages and Claims.

economies may be observed from the accompanying drawings, the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawings of which there are 4 sheets:

Figure 1 ispa sectional elevation showing one of 5. the bead forming units and the operating means thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan View in section taken on line 22; Fig. 1'.

Figure 3' is a plan view partially in section 10 taken on line 33,,Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevation taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Figurefiis a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 1. 15

Figure 6 is, a diagrammatic view showing the direction of movement of the bead forming contact points, the directions as shown by the arrows being downward along the side of the form, outwardly away from the form, upwardly through an arc and thence inwardly to the point of begin- 20 ning..

Figure '7 is a plan view in section taken on line l--l, Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is, a plan view in section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 1. 25

Figure 9 is; a side elevation of the machine of this invention, certain of the elements of the machine being; drawn in a, disproportionate scale to more clearly show the relation of the parts thereof, reference being made to the cams.

Figure 110: is an end elevation taken on line llll0', Figure 9, the above remarks as to scale being true in this figure also.

Figure 11 is a side elevation taken from the opposite side of the machine shown in Figure 9, remarks. as to scale,, made in the description of Figure 9 are also true as to Figure 11.

Figure 12 is a plan view taken on line l2'-l2, Figure 11, the above remarks as to scale being 40 also true as to Figure 12.

In the drawings the reference character 20 indicates one of the bead forming units, of which there may be any' reasonable number, and while the drawings show there to be 35 such units, this number has only been used as indicative of a plural number of such units. There may be more orless. All phases of the invention are well illustrated by the number of units shown.

Each of the units 2|] comprises a centraltubular body portion 22 within which. a push rod 24 is journaled, the upper end of the rod being adapted to support a conical cam 26 while its lower end rides upon a cam 28 which is fitted upon androtates with a, cam shaft. 30.

As shown in the several figures of the drawings the unit 28 extends both above and below a table 32 which forms the base upon which all machine elements operate. If reference is made to Figure 1, it will be noted that the gear wheel 34, which is positioned below the table 32, is provided with what may be termed a hub 36 which journals the body portion 36 and which is itself journaled within a bearing 38 that is held to the table by means of screws 48,

As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the body portion 22 is splined at 42 to receive a key 44 which is formed as a part of the hub 36 so that the body portion is held in fixed rotational relation with the gear 34, but is not prevented from reciprocable movement, as will be hereinafter disclosed.

The upper end of the body portion is provided with a shoulder 46 upon which a spider 48 is adapted to rest and which is held in position by means of a nut 58 in threaded engagement with the body portion 22.

As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the spider 48 is provided with a plural number of prongs 52, each of which is adapted to support a flexible steel finger 54, the upper extremity of which is provided with a soft tip 68b of material such as rubber, cork, felt or any other suitable material which would have a relatively high co-efficient of friction when brought into frictional contact with a sheet of rubber 56, which has previously been formed or deposited upon the form 58.

On each of the fingers I place rollers 68 which are journaled in bearing brackets 62, which may be riveted or spot welded to the fingers 64 as convenience may dictate.

The lower end of the body portion 22 is flanged at 66a and is fitted with a push-rod guide 64 which is held in position by means of screws 66. As shown in the several figures of the drawings the guide 64 is provided With a circumferentially extending flange 66 against which a cam 68, secured upon and driven by cam shaft 38, is adapted to operate.

An extensile spring I8 is fitted around that portion of the body 22 which extends below the wheel 34, and as shown, one end of the spring abuts the wheel 34, while its other end rests upon the flange I2 as shown.

The lower extremity of the body portion 22 is hollowed to receive a second extensile spring I4 which extends around the push rod 24 and has its one end abutting end wall I6, while its other end abuts or rests upon a washer 18, which is held in position by a pin or key 88. The end face of guide 64 is hollowed at 82 to receive a flanged head 84 formed upon the lower end of push rod 24, thereby forming a recess within which the head 84 may recede when the rod 24 is thrust upwardly by the action of cam 28.

At definite intervals during the machine operation it is necessary that all of the push rods be simultaneously lifted, and to this end I have provided bars 86, having cam surfaces 88, and which are fitted between the inner faces of cams 28,'and 68, and which are adapted to rest upon and move upon cam shaft 38.

As shown in Figure 11, the bars 86, are all joined to a transversely extending bar 98, which is connected to bell cranks 92, by means of links 94.

The cam shafts 38, are journaled in bearings 96, and lie in parallel rows as shown in Figure 11. Each of the shafts 38 carry cams 28, and 68, of which cam 28, is shown resting beneath the end 84, of the push rod. Of the several cam shafts 38, I select cam shaft 3811 as a means to rotate a special cam 98, the rotation of which operates auxiliary devices to operate the machine as a Whole, as will be noted from time to time.

A bracket I82, secured to the table 32, is adapted to journal a shaft I84, upon the end of which I place a cam follower I86, having a pin I88, which is adapted to follow cam groove III], of cam 88, thereby swinging cam follower I86 through a given range of motion, which is of course transmitted to shaft I84. The opposite end of shaft I84, is provided with a lever II2 having a rod or shaft I I4, which is in direct connection with the bell cranks 94, by means of pivots I I6.

It is necessary that all of the beading units move in unison, and to effect such simultaneous action I drive each of the cam shafts 38, by means of worm gears I28, and I22. The gears I28, being mounted upon cam shafts 38, while gears I22, are mounted upon a countershaft I24, journaled in bearings I26, and which are driven through or by speed reduction gears, grouped together under the reference character I28, drive chain I38, and motor I32.

Previous reference was made to the fact that the body portion 22 is splined to receive key 44 which is integral with the hub 36 of wheel 34, and that insofar as rotation is concerned they are joined. Figures 9 and 10 will show that each of the gears 34, associated with the units 28 is in train and that accordingly when one moves, they all move in accordance with the motion of the first driven gear.

Since it is necessary to rock or oscillate the gears 34, I drive half gear I34 by means of a pitman rod I36, which is in turn driven by means of wrist-pin I38, gear I48 and the shaft I28a of the principal gear I26b. Thus it will be seen that as the pitman I36 reciprocates, the half gear I34 will be rocked through a given range of motion which is transmitted to all of the gears 34 in train. The full purpose of the above referred to gear oscillation will be hereinafter disclosed.

Reference to Figures 9-10 and 11 will show that the forms 58 are secured to form boards I42, which are suspended upon rollers I44, which are adapted to move Within the channel track I46 as the form board advances to operative position indicated by the movable overhead I48.

Suitable transverse members I58 support the track I46, while slotted guides I52 are also secured to members I58 for the purpose of guiding the movable overhead I48 when it is raised or lowered by means of hydraulic piston rod I54.

The overhead I48 comprises the piston rod I54, channel track sections M811, and a structure I48b interposed between the piston rod I54 and the track section I48a.

Figure 10 shows a hydraulic cylinder I56 within which hydraulic pressure is applied to a piston (not shown) on piston rod, I54, causing the overhead I48 to move in response to the direction of fluid pressure, the control of which is determined by the position of cam 88, cam follower I86,

construction of the machine of this invention. I will now describe theoperation of the same.

With the machine set up in operative position as shown in Figure 9, it is only necessary to move the form board I42 over rail section A to the overhead structure I48. The motor I32 is started by energizing circuit I80 by means of switch button I82, thereby rotating gears I32a, I281), I280 and I46 to reciprocate pitman rod I36 and oscillation of half gear I34 which by reason of being in train with all of the gears 34, will cause all of such gears to also oscillate. It will thus be seen that oscillation of gears 34 causes the central body sections 22 to also oscillate because of the splined relation of section 22 and the hub 36 of gears 34. It will also be noted that partial rotation of the body 22 carrying fingers 54, will bring the tips 68b of the fingers into contact with the entire circumferential surface of the form 58 and edge 60a. of the article on the form.

Concurrently with the oscillation of fingers 54, chain I39, driving gear Islla, countershaft I24, worm gears I22 and I25, effects rotation of cam shafts 36, thereby rotating cams 28 and 68. As shown in Figure l, cam 28 is set with a certain lead over cam 68, so that push rod 24 is first raised, thereby causing the conical cam 26 to bear against the rollers till, the effect of which is to transmit pressure against fingers 54, causing them to move outwardly as indicated by dotted lines 54a in Figure 1.

As the fingers 54 are spread from contact with the form 58 and article 56, cam 58 is brought into position and bearing against flange causes the body portion 22 to be raised, thus moving the fingers 54, and contact points 661) upwardly as indicated by the reference character 6 in Figure 6. As the apex of cam 28 moves from under the end of push rod 24, spring I4 forces the rod downwardly to follow the cam, and simultaneously releases the pressure of cam 26 from rollers 60 and fingers 54 so that the tips or contacts 50b move inwardly as indicated by f in Figure 6. As the apex of cam 58 moves from under flange 55, spring Ill pushing against flange I2 causes the body portion 22 to move downwardly as indicated by g in Figure 6.

It should be borne in mind that the form 58 is of slightly greater diameter than the normal dimension across opposing tips Bill) on the fingers 54. Thus fingers 54 are always bearing against the forms 58 thus accounting for the straight line indicated by g in Figure 6.

Further rotation of cam 98 causes cam follower I05 to effect movement of shaft "34 which through lever H54, link I62 and bell crank I60 'actuates control rod I05 to throw bell crank I56, link I'Iil, bell crank I68 and link I12 to throw valve arm I12 and valve I'IZa to admit fluid pressure to enter cylinder I56 through pipe I16 thereby forcing piston rod I54 to lower the overhead I48. During this interval fluid is being exhausted through pipe Ilfia following its previous admission for the purpose of lifting the overhead I48.

It is necessary in order to form a bead on rticle 56, that after the form has been moved to its lowermost operating position, that the overhead I48 and all of the forms 58 be withdrawn through and against the pulling action of fingers 54, for as the article is withdrawn its edge material as shown at 53a will be rolled into a bead.

After a suflicient amount of bead has been formed from the wall material of the article, cam 28 again causes the fingers to be spaced from the form and article, and due to configuration given cam groove III], the overhead I48 is moved upwardly more quickly than during the interval that the bead is being formed.

The timing of the machine is such that the fingers 54 are spread to permit the downward movement of piston I54, overhead I48 form boards I42 and forms 58 so that the beading of the article 56 may be accomplished. Likewise after placement of the work, the fingers are brought to normal position for the duration of the beading operation, after which the fingers are again spaced to permit removal of the work. To effect the last mentioned operation, I provide slidable bars 86 having cam surfaces 88. The bars as previously mentioned are connected to the transversely extending bar 95 which is synchronously moved forwardly and rearwardly by reason of the movement of lever II2, rod II4, bell cranks 92 and links 94.

It should be borne in mind that all of the previously described movements take place in timed sequence. Some of the movements are constant, while others, as in any automatic ma.- chine, take place at given intervals of time.

To recapitulate, the machine operation is as follows.

(1) The fingers are spread to permit placement of the work.

(2) The forms are lowered to operating position.

(3) The fingers move inwardly to contact the work and are moved by cam action through a pattern to form a bead as shown in Figure 6.

(4) Rotation of cams 28 and 68 is continuous.

(5) Oscillation of gears 35 is constant.

(6) Slide bars 85 are moved forwardly to spread fingers for the removal of the work.

(7) The forms are elevated to the point of beginning.

After the forrns are returned to the point of beginning, they are moved outwardly over rail section B, while new work is brought forward over rail A, from which point the previously described cycle of operation begins over again.

From a study of the machine herein set forth, it will be apparent that I have developed a new method of beading articles of the character described, wherein simplicity of necessary mechanical structure is an outstanding feature when taken together and in view of permissible volume of output.

While I have described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific showing herein made but do claim as a part of this invention, all such near resemblance, principle and mode of operation as clearly falls within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of fingers having pads on the ends thereof, means to cause said finger-pads to alternately engage and then release one end of an. article to be headed, and means to retract said article during the formation of a bead thereon.

2. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number in contact therewith prior to returning to the r point of beginning, and means to retract said article during beading.

3. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of fingers having pads adapted to engage an article to be beaded, means to spread said fingers prior to engaging said article, means to cause said fingers to move parallel with said article and in contact therewith prior to returning to the point of beginning, means to oscillate said fingers, and means to retract said article.

4. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of fingers having pads adapted to engage an article to be beaded, means to spread said fingers prior to engaging said article, means to cause said fingers to move parallel with said article and in contact therewith prior to being spread, means to oscillate said fingers concurrently with engaging and releasing said article, and means to retract said article.

5. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of deformable fingers having pads adapted to engage an article to be beaded, a form to support said article, pressure means to deform said fingers in clearance of said article, means to move said fingers upwardly, said pressure means being retractable, said fingers being reformable to contact said article and said form after retraction of said pressure means, means to move said fingers downwardly in contact with said article and form, means to oscillate said fingers concurrently with being moved upwardly and divergently in clearance of said article and form and contacting said article and its form, and means to concurrently retract said article and form.

6. In a machine of the character described, a heading unit, means to operably support said unit, deformable fingers in said unit, said fingers having pads adapted to engage an article to be beaded, a form to support said article, pressure means to deform said fingers in clearance of said article and form, means to move said fingers upwardly, said pressure means being retractable, said fingers being reforniable to contact said article and form after retraction of said pressure means, means to move said fingers downwardly in contact with said article and form, means to oscillate said fingers concurrently with being moved upwardly in clearance of said article and form and being moved downwardly in contact with said article and form, and means to retract said article and form.

'7. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of resilient deformable fingers having pads adapted to form a bead on an article to be beaded, a form to support said article, means to deform said fingers, means to lift said fingers after being deformed, said deformable fingers being reformable after being lifted, means to force said fingers downwardly in contact with said article and said form, said lifting means and said deforming means being continuously operable, and means to retract said article and said form.

8. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of cam pressed fingers adapted to form a head on an article to be beaded, a form to support said article during beading, means to reciprocate said fingers divergently upward in clearance of said article and said form, and then downwardly in contact with said article and said form, means continuously operating to oscillate said fingers, means to retract said article and said form, and means operating in timed sequence to spread said fingers irrespective of the means to reciprocate said fingers.

9. In a bead forming machine of the character described, a supporting structure, means on said structure operably supporting a plural number of cam pressed fingers adapted to form a bead on an article to be beaded, a form to support said article during beading, means to reciprocate said fingers divergently upward in clearance of said article and said form, and then downwardly in contact with said article and said form, continuously operating means to oscillate said fingers, means operating in timed sequence to spread said fingers irrespective of the means to reciprocate said fingers, and means to place and withdraw said article and said form.

10. The combination with a mechanical form to support a thin rubber article during formation of an annular bead on said article, of means to form said bead, said means comprising a plural number of fingers adapted to be moved divergently, means to move said fingers divergently, means to raise said fingers in clearance of said article and said form, means to move said fingers downwardly in contact with said article and said form, means to continuously effect said movements, means to oscillate said fingers, and means to retract said form and said article.

11. In a machine adapted to bead thin rubber articles,a beading unit, said unit including a central body, a spider affixed to said body, flexible fingers having friction pads thereon and extending substantially parallel with the vertical axis of said body, said fingers being secured to said spider, means to oscillate said body, concurrently operating means to raise and lower said body, retractable means to flex said fingers whereby they may spread in clearance of said article, said fingers being adapted to reflex to cause said pads to contact said article and said form when said means to flex said fingers has been retracted, said retractable means operating in advance of the means to raise and lower said body.

12. In a machine adapted to bead thin rubber articles, a beading unit, said unit including a central body, a spider affixed to said body, fiexible fingers having friction pads thereon, and extending substantially parallel with the vertical axis of said body, said fingers being secured to said spider, means to oscillate said body, concurrently operating means to raise and lower said body, retractable means to fiex said fingers whereby they may spread in clearance of said article said fingers being adapted to refiex to cause said pads to contact said article when said means to flex said fingers has been retracted, said retractable means being designed to operate in advance of the means to raise and lower said body, the means to lower said body comprising a spring.

13. In a machine adapted to form a bead on thin rubber articles on forms, a reciprocable body, a spider on said body, fingers on said spider and extending substantially parallel with the sides of said form, said fingers having friction pads at their upper extremity, retractable means to move said fingers divergently, means to move said body and said fingers upwardly, means to retract said retractable means to permit said fingers to contact said article and form, means to force said fingers downwardly in contact with said article and said form, and. means to retract said article and said form.

14. In a machine to form a bead on a thin rubber article, a beading unit, said unit having a body portion, flexible fingers extending substantially parallel with the medial vertical axis of said body, friction pads on said fingers, a reciprocable shaft within said body, means on the upper extremity of said reciprocable shaft to intermittently and forcibly flex said fingers outwardly under tension in clearance of said article, whereby said fingers may subsequently refiex under tension to contact one end of said article, a cam to lift said shaft and the finger pressing means on said shaft, a spring to cause said shaft to follow said cam, a gear in splined relation to said body, means to oscillate said gear and said body, a second cam, said second cam being adapted to lift said body, a second spring, said second spring being adapted to cause said body to follow said second cam, said first mentioned cam being operable with lead to flex said fingers prior to their being lifted by said second mentioned cam.

15. In a machine to form beads on thin rubber articles supported upon forms, beading units, said units having a body portion, resilient fingers extending substantially parallel with the medial vertical axis of said body, friction-pads on said fingers, a reciprocable shaft within said body, a cam to lift said shaft, means on the upper extremity of said shaft to forcibly press outward against the inner sides of said fingers to flex the same under tension in clearance of said article and said form, a spring to force said shaft and said pressing means to follow said cam,

whereby said fingers are released to reflex to contact said article and said form, a gear in splined relation to said body, means to oscillate said gear and said body, a second cam, said second cam being adapted to lift said body, a spring to cause said body to follow said second mentioned cam, said first mentioned cam being operated with lead to spread said fingers prior to their being lifted by said second mentioned cam, means operating in timed sequence to lift said shaft and spread said fingers irrespective of said first mentioned cam, an elevator to raise and lower groups of forms and articles for beading, and cam controlled differential speeds to raise and lower the forms and articles on said elevator, all of said elements being operated in timed sequence.

16. The combination in a machine to form an annular ring on thin rubber articles supported upon forms by downwardly stroking the peripheral edge of the open end of said articles, of means to form said annular ring, said means comprising a plurality of resilient fingers secured to a spider oscillatable with a body structure adapted to support said fingers and extending substantially parallel with the medial vertical axis of said forms, means to fiex said fingers laterally, in clearance of said articles and said forms, means to elevate said fingers, means to lower said fingers, said flexing means being retractable, said fingers being refiexible upon retraction of said flexing means whereby said fingers may contact said forms and said articles, means on said fingers to drag a portion of said articles downwardly upon themselves when said fingers are lowered, means to concurrently oscillate said fingers, and means to concurrently retract said articles and said forms.

STANLEY S. MILLEN. 

